Why did Julian Alvarez & Álex Baena miss Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid pre-season friendly?
Both players are still recovering following the World Cup.
At the end of July, Diego Simeone’s team defeated Getafe 4-1 to start the pre-season as they continue their preparation for the new campaign.
This summer, the Red and Whites have added three notable players to their roster: Alejandro Grimaldo, Morten Hjulmand, and Lee Kang-in.
Despite Barcelona’s strong interest, Atletico have also managed to hang onto Julian Alvarez thus far, and it appears probable that the Argentina international will play for the capital giants for at least one more season.
Due to his participation in the 2026 World Cup final, Alvarez is still noticeably absent from the team. Other prominent absences include Nahuel Molina, Giuliano Simeone, Alex Baena, Grimaldo, and Alexander Sorloth.
Why did Julian Alvarez & Álex Baena miss against Man City?
Julián Álvarez and Álex Baena did not participate in Atlético Madrid’s pre-season friendly against Manchester City due to their lengthy participation representing Argentina and Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Julian Álvarez’s Argentina faced Baena’s Spain in the World Cup final on July 20, 2026, and neither player had returned for pre-season training.
According to the rules, those who have participated in the competition will be given an extended period of rest. Hence, both are expected to return before the start of the new season.
They were among many senior Atlético players who received extra recuperation time before they return to club training. Meanwhile, the Spanish giants will continue their preparation for the new season as Diego Simeone’s side looks to challenge for the title and other trophies.
Why did Julian Alvarez & Álex Baena miss against Man City?
Both have been given an extended period of rest after playing in the World Cup.
Where did the game take place?
Manchester City and Atletico Madrid played the preseason club friendly at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.